Toy tractor having improved track guiding means



Dec. 12, 1950 E. D. CAYCE 2,533,556

TOY TRACTOR HAVING IMPROVED TRACK GUIDING MEANS Filed Sept. 19, 1949Fig.

E mes! 0. Cayce IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY TRACTOR HAVINGIMPROVED TRACK GUIDING MEANS Ernest D. Cayce, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application September 19, 1949, Serial No. 116,573

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toy Vehiclesand the primary object of the present invention is to provide a toytractor having a track and embodying a novel and improved means forretaining the track relative to the wheels of the tractor and for alsoguiding the track during rotation thereof.

Another. important object of the present invention is to provide a toytractor including a track that is composed of an endless belt'havingslats secured thereto so as to resemble the actual construction of atractor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tractor thatis constructed of relatively few, easily assembled parts to reduce themanufacturing cost thereof.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a toy tractorthat is small and compact in structure, simple and practical inconstruction, neat and attractive in appearance, and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure l and with parts thereofbroken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the track used inconjunction with the present invention; and,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purposes ofillustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the numeral I represents the instant toy vehicle or tractorgenerally, including an elongated substantially rectangular body memberl2 having forward and rear, spaced parallel, transversely extendingopenings I4 that receive forward and rear axles I6 and 48.

The body member I2 is preferably constructed from building lumber, suchas a two-by-four and is suitably notched in its upper rear end toprovide a seat 20 and floor portion 22. A post 24 rises from the floorportion 22 and is provided with a crank handle 26 so that the instanttoy will more closely resemble an actual tractor.

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-219) "the forward axle like.

Forward wheels 28 are mounted on the ends of IE and rear wheels 30 aremounted on the ends of rear axle 18. The wheels 28 and 30 are heldspaced from the sides of the body member [2 by spacer sleeves 32receivedon the axles and interposed between the body member I2 and thewheels 28, 30,

' Endless belts 34 are trained about the forward and rear wheels and aplurality of spaced parallel substantially rectangular slats or tractionmembers 36 are fixed to the belts by staples 38 or the The slats are ofany suitable material such as wood (shown), plastic or rubber. Each ofthe belts 34 is formed from an endless piece of fabric material or alength of flexible material having overlapping end portions that aresecured together and to a selected one of the slats by theaforementioned fasteners or staples 38.

Means is provided for retaining the belts 34 about the wheels and foralso guiding the belts 34 during rotation thereof. This means consistsof a pair of elongated channel shaped members 40 having curved endportions 42 and 4H that embrace the forward and rear wheels 28 and 30.Offset attaching flanges 46 are formed on the inner leg portions 48 ofthe channel shaped members 49 and are secured to the sides of bodymember l2 by fasteners 50.

The channel shaped members 40 are of a width slightly greater than thelength of the slats and of a depth slightly greater than the combinedthickness of a belt and a slat so as to prevent the belts from slippingoff the wheels. The end portions 42 and 44 of the members 40 constitutefenders in addition to their guiding and retaining function.

The outer extremities of the axles l6 and I8 are flattened, as at 52,and form abutments for washers 54 received on the ends of the axles.

Obviously, the body member l2 may be suitably painted or colored to addto the attractiveness thereof and to more closely simulate an actualtractor.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and advantages of the device will be clearlyapparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description isaccordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described the preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A toy tractor comprising an elongated body member having forward andrear transversely extending openings therein, a forward axle received insaid forward opening, a rear axle received in said rear opening, aforward wheel on the forward axle, a rear wheel on the rear axle, anendless belt trained about said wheels, traction means on said belt, andmeans carried by said body member for guiding the belt durin rotationthereof and for also retaining said belt on said wheels, said lastmentioned means including an elongated channel shaped member secured toone side of said body member and having curved end portions embracingsaid wheels, said channel shaped member constituting forward and rearfenders.

2. A toy tractor comprising an elongated body member having forward andrear transversely extending openings therein, a forward axle received inthe forward opening and including end portions projecting outwardly fromthe sides of the body member, a rear axle received in the rear endportions of the rear axle, a first endless belt trained about one of therear wheels and one of the forward wheels, a second endless belt trainedabout the other rear wheel and the other forward wheel, each of saidbelts including upper and lower horizontal flights, traction means onsaid belts, and an elongated channel shaped member secured to each sideof said body member, said channel shaped members extending between saidforward and rear wheels and including end portions embracing said wheelsto guide the belts and retain the belts on the wheels.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said belts include lengths offabric each having overlapping end portions secured together, saidtraction means comprising flat substantially rectangular slats, andstaples securing said slats to said lengths of fabric.

ERNEST D. CAYCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,294,237 Cloonan Feb. 11, 19191,364,513 Ono Jan. 4, 1921 1,592,559 Dean .'July 13, 1926 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 92,423 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1922 647,396Germany July 3, 1937

